Community

Hawaiian Shirt.

1 User comfort. really it's hard to beat these in this category. Top notch and easy to wear. They are also comfortable to remove (they don't have to be peeled off one of the others in this list) when wet.

I'd give it a 9.5/10

2. Moisture Absorbtion. 8/10. Moisture Evaporation 7/10. (3 being a typical cotton tee shirt) Their sheer light weight means the moisture they suck off your skin evaporates out fairly quickly. They are meant to be used in high humidity tropical environments. And that shows. sure they suck in cold weather, but really any kind of breeze and the shirt's thinness cools you right off. As they retain moisture, it also acts in a way as extra cooling.

3. Social Acceptability. Varies. If you can't pull off wearing bright colors (ie walk with some self confidence, and be somewhat of a social lite) it seems awkward. If you can though, you'll seem right at home. Even after a work out (as they do not absorb water unevenly and evaporate it quickly. Also it's VERY difficult to make one stink... I don't think I've ever pulled that one off actually) I'll give it a 10/10 though.

4. Odor. 10/10. I don't know if it's even possible to make one stink without doing something like **** on it.

5. Muscle Support. 0/10. Infact a cotton Teeshirt if it's somewhat tight does a far better job than this shirt. You'll almost never look like a Greek God in one, and they won't help protect your muscles under heavy load what so ever. The Hawaaiian shirt bombs this test miserably, by virtue of what makes it so fantastic for cooling.

6. Price Point. 5/10 another low point. That 0 really hurts the Hawaiian shirt. And cheap ones run at $9.96 a shirt. God help you if you want the really well made ones... then the sky is pretty much the limit. (Well made as in things like button quality, expense of material used. Not so much Durability the fact that they are Woven makes em strong... until the weave is punctured or torn then you have a problem)  The Hawaiian shirts I wear at least aren't especially tough shirts. But that's what you get at the price point I shop at with these things. Lightweight and durability are ever at odds.

The A Shirt.

1. User Comfort. 7/10. While you are wearing them? full score. When you are taking it off after a workout? Or in general? 4/10. The A shirt I'm convinced was designed with looking hot in mind. (assuming you have a body worth showing off anyway) Because it's snug. It's like a second skin. This is great during the workout as you are pretty much gauranteed that it's not in the way at any point, nor does it ever feel heavy on your flesh. It's removing it after it absorbs some moisture that becomes a slight problem. (Though It is getting Easier with each A shirt I wear and remove) If only they didn't have to practically be peeled off.

2. Moisture Absorbtion. Moisture Evaporation. 9/10, and 9/10. Average 9/10. The A shirt is a beast at absorbing liquid and dissipating it, if you have the wind speed going on. After peeling it off my skin and hanging it in a room with a ceiling fan it was a matter of three minutes or so before the moisture was pretty much gone.

3. Social Acceptability. Varies. Even more than the Hawaiian shirt. If you've not got the body, don't bother. Please for everyone's sake. Wear the Moisture Wicker, or the Hawaaiian shirt till you do have the bod to wear it.  We don't wanna see what Flab looks like wrapped in an A Shirt. Even if you do have a Bod, the A Shirt's acceptability varies tremendously based on social occassions. Hot dates? Unless it involves getting sweaty a good ways before initiations of the No Pants Dance, it's probably not wearably really. Going to the store? Okay really if again you can pull it off.  5/10

4. Odor 7/10 I've noticed some smell off of my A Shirt under extremely heavy riding. (20 mile trip) However they'll never stink permenately at least not under 99 percent of circumstances.

5. Muscle Support 6/10. Where as the Hawaiian is utterly miserable in this department the A Shirt shines. It's not as supportive as a brace by any means, but it does make injury considerably less likely if it properly fits. It also, honestly helps your muscle speed by help keeping them tightened. Compared to the Hawaiian it's a godsend with weights. But it's not a Brace and it's not Under Armor.

6. Price Point. Honestly they are quite effective here. But they aren't really nice to look at. You can't really masquerade them as anything else. They are tough though. But again you get like 6 for less than 5 dollars (or at least at k mart I did). 9/10.

Next comparos will be Under Armor vs the Moisture Wicker, and then the final Over all Analysis.

EscherEnigma casts raise dead on The OTT Fitness Thread.!

*ahem*

So random question... I know that I should eat before a work out¹ so that I have energy to burn up, and I know that I should eat some protein after a work out, as apparently that helps with the muscle building or something like that, but what about during? 

Specifically, twice a week I start off with 15 minutes on a treadmill working on my running speed² and then I go into my arms/chest routine³.  I'm not sure if it's better for me, but the last two days I've done this routine I snarfed down one of my protein snack-bar-things after I finished the running and then continued onto the rest of the work-out and I felt a lot better afterwards.

But I don't know if it helps with my goals, that is, building muscle mass, strength and endurance. 

Anyone know if this is an ok habit for my longer work-outs⁶, or if I should just tough it out if I want to be Green Arrow⁷?
________
¹About an hour before, or so I've read.
²At the moment I'm trying this "interval training" thing where I run for about a third of a mile faster then I could maintain for the whole time/distance (in my case, 9 mph), then walk (3 mph) for 1/6 of a mile, then run for a third, then walk for a sixth, and so-on, until I hit my time limit of 15 minutes.  It's not the full distance that was recommended from where I got the idea, but I think they expect a better baseline of fitness then I actually have yet, so I'm working towards it.
³My brain's failing me at the moment⁴, but it includes that thing where you're on your back with the big bar with weights pushing up and down, chin-ups, incline dumbell press, single arm row, push-ups, dips, tricep pushdowns, tricep overheads, and bicep dumbell curls⁵.
⁴I hate the post-workout brain drain.
⁵I did say this was my long work-out, right?  my lower body day is shorter.
⁶From start to finish, not counting the post-workout shower, I was in the gym for about an hour and a half.  My other work-out is about 40 minutes.
⁷Of all the JLA, that seems the most attainable.  That the guy that can shoot a drop of water as it falls is the most attainable says a lot about the realism of comics.

Oh god that workout is hard. Glad that I was still in good enough shape to do it after not doing it for a few months (bout August on I leaned off abit) but damn.

heh, I have the exact same feeling after my workout and clean up EE. Dunno why. I think it's just a comfort thing. Up to that point I've been shirtless for the better part of an hour, and quite warm (unless it's outside training day.... ) so I don't feel the need to put a shirt on right away most of the time.

Winter training is right around the corner. Get up and fight the flab people. 

I'll post my winterizing routine once I determine what exactly it's going to be this year.